Antiskid attachment for shoes



June 13, 1950 c. YOUNG ANTISKID ATTACHMENT FOR SHOES Filed May 20, 1949Patented June 13, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved attachment for shoes, andis particularly directed to an anti-skid device that may be easily andquickly attached to, or removed from the shoes of an individual.

Primarily designed for use by those whose duties require them to operateout-of-doors in all kinds of weather, for example policemen, mailcarriers, deliverymen and so on, the attachment may be worn to goodadvantage by anyone for safe walking on slippery surfaces.

I am aware that heretofore a number of patents have been issued for shoeattachments of this general nature, including ice creepers. Thesedevices however, have many disadvantages, in that they rely almostentirely on pointed studs r projections to prevent slipping. Thus, on asmooth icy surface for example, instead of providing safety for thewearer, these devices, especially when through previous use the pointsof the studs have become rounded, frequently prove to be dangerous.

One of the distinguishing features of the present invention consists inthe provision of a plurality of transversely disposed chains in lieu ofspikes or the like, on the underside of the attachment. As is well knownfrom experience on automobile tires, chains are exceptionally effectivefrom an anti-skid standpoint.

In a general summary, the attachment comprising the present inventionmay be said to include a forward or sole portion; a rearward or heelportion including an upwardly extending and arcuately formedheel-embracing band; a hinge connection joining the sole and heelportions; at least two spaced transversely disposed lengths of chainremovably secured to said sole portion; at least one transverselydisposed length of chain removably secured to said heel portion; asingle tapered or conical element adjacent the front marginal edge ofthe sole portion; and a pair of loops or the like on the sole portionand also on the heel portion for the attachment of suitable straps orthe like by means of which the entire device may be quickly fastened toa shoe.

A more comprehensive understanding of the invention may be had from thedetailed description to follow, reference being had also to theaccompanying sheet of drawings, wherein is illustrated the preferredembodiment of the device.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the shoe attachment comprising the presentinvention, the means for attaching same to a shoe being omitted;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof, suitable means for attachingthe device to a shoe being fragmentarily shown;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on a greatly enlarged scale, takenon line 3-3 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 1.

In Figs, 1 and 2, the device is generally indicated by the numeral It).It includes a forward or sole engaging portion generally designated l2,a rearward or heel engaging portion generally disilgsnated M, and ahinged connection shown a Preferably, the sole portion l2 and the heelportion I 4 are of lightweight material, such as aluminum, plastic, orthe like, so that the device does not prove to be unduly cumbersome.

To that end also, the sole portion I2 is of skeleton formation andincludes a peripheral portion l8, and an approximately centrallydisposed reinforcement bar or brace 20 integrally formed therewith.

The heel portion l4 includes a base member 22 and an upwardly extendingarcuately formed hetelll-embracing band 24 integrally formed there- W1As shown in Fig. 2, the hinge connection It is countersunk in theadjacent upper regions of the sole and heel portions I2 and It, beingsecured in place by screws 26, or otherwise.

The forward or sole portion I2 is provided with a pair of transverselydisposed lengths of chain. The first of these is designated by thenumeral 28, and the second, by the numeral 30. Both these chains aremounted in the manner illustrated on an enlarged scale in Fig. 4.

As there shown, the side rails 32 of the peripheral portion [8, haveformed therein horizontal apertures 34, through each of which extendsthe shank portion 36 of a screw element also including a hook or eyeletportion 38 adapted to receive one of the terminal links 39 of the chain28. The inner end of each shank portion 36 is threaded as at 40 toreceive a nut 42, whereby said chain is securely fastened to the soleportion l2, as shouid be apparent.

The other chain 30 is similarly mounted and the same reference numeralsare applied in the drawings to corresponding parts. i

The rearward or heel portion I4 is likewise equipped with a transverselyextending chain, the latter being designated by numeral 44.

This chain is removably mounted in a manner similar to that describedrelative to the chains 28 and. 30.

As shown in Fig. 3, the base portion 22 is recessed to provide a cavity46 of rectangular configuration, thus forming walls 48, each of whichhas formed therein a horizontal aperture 50, for the reception ofretainer elements similar to those appearing in Fig. 4.

These are identified by the same reference numerals, the terminal linksof chain 44 however being designated by numeral 52, in the interest ofclarity.

It is noted that each of the three chains is of greater length than thedistance between the pairs of eyelets 38 to which they are attached, sothat when not in use, the chains hang out of contact with the sole andheel portions.

Thus when in use, the chains are free to move in any direction, and willdo so, thereby preventing clogging of the links with ice and snow.

Adjacent the front marginal edge of the sole portion l2 of the device,and located approximately on the longitudinal centerline of the device,is a single tapered, or conical element 54, which as seen in Fig. l, ispreferably maintained in place by means of a countersunk screw 56.

Obviously, the invention necessarily includes means whereby the devicemay be attached to the shoe of the wearer. To this end, the sole portioni2 is provided with a pair of loops 58 integral therewith, or rigidlysecured thereto.

Similarly, the heel portion at is provided with a pair of loops 5i!integral with, or rigidly secured to the upwardly and rearwardlyextending supporting portions 62 for the band 24.

As suggested in Fig. 2, a pair of toe straps 64 and a pair of anklestraps G6 associated respectively with the loops 58 and 56, may servefor attaching the device to a shoe, it being understood that buckles orother fastening means may be provided to obviate fortuitousdisplacement.

From the foregoing description and the drawing, it sheuld be evidentthat the invention provides novel safety device for walking, running, orclimbing over slippery surfaces.

The flexibility inherent in the chains has many advantages not presentin rigid studs, prongs, and so on. The band 24, integral with the heelbase 22, facilitates attachment of the device, in that it serves as anabutment for the heel portion of the shoe. The single conical element orstud 5 3, has no particular function on level surfaces, but does eomeinto play on inclined surfaces, as is understood. Countersinking of thehinge l6 in the upper Surfaces of the device has this advantage, thatany snow or ice tending to accumulate about said hinge is immediatelyand continually agitated in walking, whereby its co- What I claim is:

1. An anti-skid attachment for a shoe, comprising in combination: a solemember and a heel member joined by a hinge connection, said sole memberbeing of skeleton formation and having a peripheral portion including apair of side rails, an approximately centrally disposed longitudinallyextending reinforcement bar, and. a pair of longitudinally spacedhorizontal apertures formed in each side rail; said heel memberincluding a base portion, an upwardly and rearwardly extending arcuatelyformed heel-embracing band portion integral therewith, and a cavity ofrectangular configuration formed in said base portion to provide a pairof spaced walls each having therein a horizontal aperture; a pair oftransversely disposed lengths of chain the terminal links of each saidchains being removably secured to the side rails aforesaid of the solemember by means of screw elements passing through said side railapertures; a transversely disposed length of chain the terminal links ofwhich are removably secured to the spaced wa ls aforesaid of the heelmember by means of screw elements passing through said wall apertures; asingle downwardly projecting conical element removably secured adjacentthe front marginal edge of the sole member; and means adapted. toreceive toe and ankle straps whereby to removably secure the attachmentto the shoe of the wearer, said means comprising a pair of opposed loopsformed integrally with said sole member, and a pair of similarlydisposed loops formed integrally with said heel member.

2. The anti-skid attachment of claim 1, wherein the said hingeconnection is countersunk in the adjacent upper regions of the sole andheel members; wherein each of the said transversely disposed lengths ofchain is of greater length than the distance obtaining between the saidscrew elements to which the terminal links of each chain are attached;wherein each of said screw elements includes an integral eyelet portionadapted to retain a terminal link, a shank portion extending through oneof said horizontal apertures and having a threaded extremity adapted tobe engaged by a retaining nut; and wherein the conical element adjacentthe front marginal edge of the sole member is removably secured theretoby means of a countersunk screw passing therethrough and into engagementwith a threaded aperture provided in said element.

CLARENCE YOUNG.

REFERENCES The following references are of record in the file of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 577,475 Zandalazini Feb. 23, 18971,293,349 Cotter Feb. 4, 1919 1,408,730 Grein Mar. 7, 1922 1,469,619Byrd Oct. 2, 1923

